Witnessed by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and leaders of the 10-member ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), Chinese Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai signed the agreement with 10 economic ministers of the ASEAN countries.

According to the agreement, starting from July 1, 2005, China and ASEAN countries will start their tariff-reducing process. The two sides will gradually reduce or cancel tariff on 7,000 kinds ofproducts, reports Xinhua News.

According to the USA Today, some analysts believe the agreement shows how an increasingly bold China is forging new alliances that would reduce, and possibly eventually challenge, America's influence in Asia.

More than 5.8 million people voted for Nicholas Maduro at the presidential election in Venezuela. This is more than a quarter of registered voters. Why did those people vote for the man, who, as Western media write, took Venezuela to the brink of collapse?